Book Blast: Candy O'Donnell

Title: Night Crawler 

Author: Candy O’Donnell

Release Day: September 28^th, 2014

Book Blast: October 17^th, 2014

The past never stays where it belongs!

In Westwood, California, was where John Francis, the town’s priest re-encountered the beast. To his astonishment, horrifying events began unraveling before him. These unprovoked occurrences soon turned to fright when Sister Teresa's body was found murdered. When Kathy Riego stepped into the Sister's shoes she showed him a renewed identification for the word love. John began this new relationship with a masked reality as the horrid beast began showing him a long forgotten past that was supposed to be buried long ago.

Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Night-Crawler-Candy-ODonnell-ebook/dp/B00O17EXVK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Crawler-Candy-ODonnell-ebook/dp/B00O17EXVK

Author Bio:

 Candy O’Donnell was born in Carmichael, California. At the age of twelve, she wrote her first mini book. Filled mostly with what took place with her mother and her long tedious bout with leukemia. It was a short story told as extra credit when she suffered a sprained ankle and had to be out of school for over two months. School officials refused to believe a word of what she had written until her grandmother, her guardian back then, entered the school with the truth. Everything she had written down was exactly what took place. Unfortunately her mother succumbed to the disease. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Culture. After living with her aunt and uncle for over five years she wished to explore her uncle’s Native heritage and did so with vigor. She also has 6 Grad units in Criminal Justice.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandyODonnell

http://authorcandydonnell.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @Candyodonnell

The Legacy Code by Autumn Kalquist

5 Stars

I NEED MORE!!! This can't be it! From the very beginning, Ms. Kalquist has you engrossed into this story and turning the pages as quickly as you can to find out what happens next. Even if you're not into science fiction stories, The Legacy Code has you believing the story with its realistic tones and heartfelt characters. I cried at the end. I loved this book. I wish it were longer. 

Anniversary Sale!

10 years is a long time to hold a torch for one person. In celebration of the Booth's 10-year wedding anniversary Jean is sharing the love with you! The first two books in her Paranormal Romance series are FREE on Kindle!

Choice, Origins of the Supernaturals, Book 1

It was chance, guided by the hands of a god that brought them together.

Natasha never believed that the fairy tales she read to her niece were real. She read them to give her niece hope. She, herself, had all but given up on love, until the fateful day when she went scuba diving in the Bermuda Triangle and was thrust into a culture of people that’d change her life forever.

On a legendary island, she meets Raif, the shape shifting Warrior Chief of Atlantis, and her soul mate. Their attraction is instant, powerful and foretold by an oracle, centuries before Natasha was born. She struggles with the intense desire, unwilling to truly believe and fraught with the desire to return to the surface, free from the deep, confusing emotions she feels around Raif.

It's on Atlantis where she's told about the origins of the supernatural species. Vampires, shifters, and elementals - they're all real! With time and fate against her, Natasha's given the most difficult choice of her life. Can she let her heart go, accept Raif as her soul mate without losing her soul in the process? Would her choice bind them, or doom a hidden culture to eternal isolation?

Changed, Origins of the Supernaturals, Book 2

Do you believe the unbelievable is possible?

Natasha didn't until the day she drowned. She woke mated to a Shifter and her life would never be the same again. Separated from her soul mate, Raif, by time, miles of ocean and an ancient prophecy, she struggles to understand her new existence. Alone, confused and betrayed by those closest to her, she seeks out guidance from the only person she can think of - a vampire.

"Vampires, Shapeshifters, Necromancers, Supernatural Hunters - I sat in awe listening as Stephan, leader of the Vampire clans, teach me about my new culture. I'm glad he waited until now to tell me. I didn't believe the unbelievable was possible until I was mated to a powerful Shape shifter three months ago. After that, all sorts of crazy things started happening to me.

I've got to say, I'm a believer now."

About the Author

JEAN BOOTH lives in Nevada with her husband and cats. When she's not out risking her neck on the back of her motorcycle, she enjoys the more calm activities of reading, gardening, and spending time with her friends and family. She has worked in health care for most of her adult life before deciding to finally share the stories that have been living in her head.

To see what’s coming soon in your favorite series visit www.jeanbooth.com.

Blog 

Facebook 

Twitter 

The Seal Island Trilogy by Sophie Moss

5 Stars

This was a fun, fast-paced, witty read. Moss does an excellent job telling a story, weaving in mythology and bringing your pulse up as you turn the pages. You don't want to put this book down. The characters are fun and well rounded, the story is beautifully written and connects with the mythology of the selkies in a wonderfully believable way.

I despise Ian.

I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

5 Stars

Sophie Moss has a way of drawing you into the story and no matter how far-fetched things may seem, you find yourself glued to the pages. While some things were obvious and some made you groan with frustration, I really enjoyed this story. It was a great way to continue the Selkie fantasy and leaves you wanting more without feeling like you're missing something. So glad I don't have to wait for book three!

4 Stars

An excellent end to a fun trilogy. I loved Ms. Moss' use of the Selkie legend and the roses to cause havoc amongst the islanders and am glad she chose to end this trilogy like she did. Any more and I feel it would've gotten drug out and repetitive. I love the characters and how everything worked out in the end (some good, some bad - all satisfying). If you like feel-good romances, this is the trilogy for you!

In Creeps the Night - An Anthology of Horror Flash Fiction

50 talented authors… 50 spine-tingling tales… 50 reasons to leave the lights on tonight... 

Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls creep through pages of spooky flash fiction. Discover critically acclaimed authors that will make your skin shiver and have you flinching at bumps in the night. Whenever the mood strikes for something creepy, this collection will leave you looking over your shoulder. We donated our time and design skills to create the cover, interior and matching eBook for this collection that benefits Mothers Without Borders.

Available on Amazon

Connect With J.A.MES Press

Connect With Blue Harvest Creative

Review - Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa Bick

Let me just start by saying I try REALLY hard to not give spoilers or tell too much about the story in my reviews. I tell you what I would rate them and give a few tidbits on things that really struck me. These may not be the in-depth synopsis reviews you're looking for, but I try not to disparage the author or ruin the fun in reading for the reader. 

4 Stars

Interesting Apocalypse story. I started this series because it is the first book my husband started listening to on Audible. As he is not a reader, I wanted to support him in all things books. It gave us something to talk about that we were both interested in, and he was able to see a new perspective and has a better understanding on my writerly world. I had a difficult time really liking this book and honestly spent more time groaning over the stupidity of the characters than enjoying the story - until Rule. Ella is an extremely easy character to despise and makes me extremely grateful to not have children. Alex is complex. I'm still not sure if I'm rooting for or against her yet. I am intrigued enough to rest the next story. I just hope the storyline speeds up soon.

 

4 Stars

VERY SLOW build-up with EVERYTHING. And there is a LOT of things happening at once. It can be confusing at times as to who's story is being told at any given moment, but it is interesting and keeps up the suspense. It didn't really start getting good, to where you're teeth are clenched and you're cursing your interruptions, until about the last 10 or so chapters. And then it just ended. It was a decent book, but I hope Monster has an actual conclusion and I didn't just waste a few days of my time.

2 Stars

SO disappointed. While still maintaining a heady suspense, the culmination of this trilogy really leaves you with more questions than answers. I'm not really sure what to say without giving things away, but if you really want to feel as if you've wasted a ton of time, read this trilogy. I'm very disappointed with this ending. Ms. Bick should've edited out a whole bunch in this series and actually taken the time to finish it. Answer some questions. Come to some sort of conclusion. My husband is so bored listening to this book he's actually making up songs and calling me. He can only listen to about 30 minutes at a time without wanting to destroy Audible. Such a disappointment.

The Last Boyfriend

Fourteen years ago today, I was asked out on a date. He was a young man, with loads of potential, and a lot of fun to be with. He took me to my favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden, and proceeded to look like he was going to either faint or throw up in the middle of the restaurant.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yah," he croaked out.
I looked at him with one eyebrow crooked, but shrugged it off. He'd tell me what was bothering him when he was ready. We ordered and he started fidgeting with everything on the table. I knew then that he was nervous, not sick.
"How was your day?" I asked, a smile playing at the corners of my lips.
"Fine," he replied. "I have to ask you something."
"What's up?" I tilted my head and tried to suppress the grin.
"Well," he ducked his head, twisting his napkin on the table top.
He took a deep breath, "will you be my girlfriend?"
I couldn't hold it back. I grinned, giggling just a bit with how flustered he was. Taking his hand in mine, I replied.
"Of course I will."
He smiled back and kissed my hands.
Leaning over, we kissed, sealing the agreement.
Life would not always be easy, and our relationship would not always be roses. There are thorns in the mix, and those things bite! But, every year I would remember this adorable young man. His nerves, how scared he was at me saying no, and the look of pure amazement that I said yes that crossed his expression will continue to remind me of why I fell so hard for him. Fourteen years ago the last man I will ever date asked me to go steady. We will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in a few weeks and all I can say is, "I love you babe. Always and Forever."

Changes

For those of you following me on FB, you already know that I've begun to work with Blue Harvest Creative to revamp the books. What you may not know is the major overhaul Zombie War is getting. It will no longer be a trilogy, but a single book in three parts. I'm SO excited for how it's coming, and I know you will be as well.
For those of you who already have the Zombie War Trilogy- CONGRATS!!! You have a FIRST EDITION copy! You should feel special. They are no longer available for purchase, and you can brag to all your friends how you read them first - you lucky duck you!
For those who have been waiting - be patient. The wait is almost over and you will be able to snatch your copy of the completed (trilogy?) book soon!
I can't wait to share the updates and the re-vamped version of Zombies with you. Updates will be posted as I receive them.

Another thing, I've been doing a lot of soul searching this past year. I've been working on Convergence, but am not certain when it is going to be released yet. It's not finished, and I want to make sure I'm completely happy with it before sharing it with you. I'm sorry for the delay, but I refuse to put out a book I'm not pleased with. I know you understand and I appreciate your patience with me on this. I've been doing a whole lot of reading lately and have decided that for the foreseeable future, Tuesdays are going to be dedicated to Review Days on this blog. I hope you enjoy and appreciate the reviews.

You guys are awesome and I love ya!

Last day for this sale!!! Check it out!!!

Award-winning author Katie Jennings is running a sale on all of her eBooks from September 19th thru September 21st! Check out what's for sale below: The Dryad Quartet: The Vasser Legacy: So Fell The Sparrow: Also, in addition to the collection of eBooks being on sale, she's running a birthday raffle for a signed print copy of her ghostly romance, So Fell The Sparrow! Sparrow won an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, and is a #1 bestseller in Ghost Suspense on Amazon.

Please help spread the word and share this post! :)

Come One, Come All!!!

On September 20th (TOMORROW!!!!), from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. at Grassroots Bookstore in Reno, NV Vassal: The Second Book of Tir Athair will be available in both print and eBook formats. To celebrate, Reno’s best independent bookstore will be hosting me as I sign print copies of all available Tir Athair works. But book signings aren’t the only attractions that day.

Book cover and advertisements designed by Blue Harvest Creative

Schedule of Events:

• 11am: Storytelling for the kids by aspiring author Dave Nightingale
• 11am: Falconry demonstrations by Darkwell Renaissance Festival
• 11:30: Old world fibers by Beck, including spinning wheels and hand-spindling
• 12:00: Renaissance music by youth musician Jaidyn MacDonald
• 1pm: Book readings by authors Marissa Ames, Jean Booth, and Kurt Winans
• 1:30pm: Face painting for the kids by Beck
• 2pm: Renaissance music by youth musician Lauren Hutchings
• 2:30pm: Storytelling for the kids by youth book critic Sahara Wilcock

Throughout the day:

• Heavy combat demonstrations by the Society for Creative Anachronism. (The public will only be spectators for combat demonstrations.)
• Craft demonstrations by the Society for Creative Anachronism
• Historical representations by Reno Celtic Celebration’s Scottish/French Court of Mary Stuart

Other events are still being determined and will be added to the schedule once finalized.

Other authors include Jean Booth, authors of Zombie War and The Origins paranormal series, and Kurt Winans, author of science fiction works Pilgrimage and Second Moon. Works by all three authors are kept in stock at Grassroots Books.

On site food, including vegan and gluten free options, served by J&J’s Italian Ices

Grassroots Books is the preferred storefront for the Tir Athair series. Print prices will always be lower at Grassroots than on Amazon.com. However, if you prefer eBooks, you can pre-order Vassal for only $3.49 until September 20th. Upon the book’s release date, the price will rise to $4.99.

Fringe

If you haven't watched Fringe, or haven't yet seen the finale and hate spoilers, stop reading now. I'm going to spend this post talking about the 5th season finale - the last episode of Fringe and don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't seen it yet.
As Shark Week is in full bloom, I spent the evening bawling as I watched the last few episodes of Fringe, alone in my living room with my cats. Even as I was frantically clearing my vision of the tears, all I could think about was, "they have it all wrong," and how much I hate fluctuating hormones.
That aside, I don't know how the writers of Fringe could have missed such a crucial moment, especially when they reminded us of this event when Michael caused Walter to have his flashback. When Michael and Walter went into the wormhole into the future to eliminate the observers, September would have been eliminated too. (Thereby eliminating the possibility that Michael could have ever been created in the first place, but I could argue myself in circles for that so I'll leave it alone) Now, if September had lived and went through the wormhole with Michael, I could understand and argue this point against myself, but as he died before being able to enter the wormhole, I just can't see it.
Here's my problem - Peter and Olivia would never have met because Peter died when he was a boy. Walternate would have never been distracted by September when making his cure for alternate Peter because September would have never existed (he was an observer) and Walter would have never had a reason to enter the alternate universe, therefore, the fractures in the two universes would have never been created and Fringe events would never have happened. The entire story of Fringe would never have happened because the focal point would never have occured. Walter would have become the crazy mad scientist he was afraid of becoming, and then blipped out of existence at some point because of the wormhole thing.
The fact that the observers disappeared at the 2016 timeline just doesn't make sense. If Michael was supposed to show the scientist that he didn't have to eliminate the emotional part of the brain, and avoid creating the observers, then they never would have existed in any time, not just 2016. It makes for a nice, happy ending, but it's not accurate. I think if they would have avoided reminding us, yet again, of how September saved Peter and Walter from the frozen lake, then maybe most people could have forgotten that part of the timeline. But they did (and truthfully, I saw that flaw WAY before that flashback) and the ending just didn't make sense.
That being said, humans like happy endings, and it doesn't get better than seeing a family being reunited. I still liked that show, flaws and all. :)

Book Review: The DCI Casebooks: Ellis Flynn

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

I greatly enjoyed my first installment of Donovan's work. Ellis Flynn was fast-paced, exciting, and edge-of-your-seat intriguing. I had no idea it was written in UK English, and that threw me a bit - especially when Donovan would veer from that and use American English terms i.e.: miles instead of kilometers. Not sure why his UK main character would do that, but cool. I loved to hate Flynn. He was an exceptionally well written bad guy and I greatly enjoyed the climactic scene when Jones finally meets him. The violence in that scene made me smile. Jean-Luc seemed extremely beyond helpful - more so than any cop I've ever read or heard about - ever. The twist with him at the end had me more interested in knowing more about his history. There has to be a reason for him to be so ridiculously helpful and knowing. To be honest, I wasn't greatly invested in the kidnap victim. I didn't really care if she was rescued or not. I personally could have used a bit more character development on her to really feel the need to rescue her. To me, she was just another stupid girl. Also, I find it extremely admirable that Jones can remain so functional on such little sleep. Being someone that works 12 hours, sleeps for two and works another 6, I don't know how he maintains any type of thought process with such little sleep and so much activity. That being said, if you like fast-paced, exciting books that lead you on a twisting adventure, pick up this book. It was a good read that had you turning pages quickly to see what happens next.

Scammers

When I was 18 I moved from Florida to Nevada. Quite the culture shock! More on that later, but you have to know that to really understand the story I'm about to tell. Six months or so after I moved to Nevada, I received a weird letter in the mail telling me that I had money in Florida that some company wanted to send me. Of course, my instant thought was, "this is a total scam. People suck so much." After reading through all the paperwork I realized that I didn't have to send any money, and supposedly they would send me a check for some undisclosed amount they had waiting for me in Florida.
I shrugged my shoulders and mailed the thing back. What did I have to lose? A few weeks went by and I completely forgot about the letter, knowing from the beginning that it was a scam and my identity was probably being stolen. Not that they'd be able to do anything with it. I was 18, didn't have any credit or any life to speak of at that time. I moved on.
Months later, I received a check in the mail.
I was shocked. Speechless. Flabbergasted. Maybe there was goodness in humanity after all. Maybe, just maybe, good things could happen to me! I was so excited. I cashed it - everything was fine. I was actually sent a random letter regarding random money and received it!
So now, when I get these strange letters in the mail, I have to read through everything before completely dismissing it as crap. Today, I get this letter in the mail:

And I think to myself, "hmm. It happened once, perhaps it could happen again?" Then reality kicked her steal-toed boot firmly up my behind, and I stopped myself from doing something stupid. I've never lived in the Netherlands, don't know any reason why anyone from there would want to send me money, never heard of Media Opportunities Direct, and I really didn't feel comfortable sending them $26.00 in processing fees.
Then I got irritated. I am so sick of people preying on the desperation of others. I looked them up and saw hundreds of comments from people who fell prey to this scam and are picking up the pieces. I know there are terrible people in this world, but I often wonder, how do they live with themselves? How do they sleep at night, knowing they're destroying the one thing keeping most of us sane - hope?

Major Depression

I was driving out to see a friend on Monday, after working a 12-hour shift at the hospital and I was thinking of posting a blog regarding major depression. I had it all worked out in my head, I just had to get home to type it up onto my computer. However, when I finally got home and turned on my computer, I found out about Robin Williams and this post just seemed cliché. That being said, I can't get this out of my head, so you get the post anyway. Just keep in mind, I'm not doing this because of the recent celebrity suicide.
They say one in four people suffer from major depression at one point in their lives. What a lot of people don't realize is that some people may have feelings of depression for a period of time, while others deal with it their entire lives. I'm in the latter group. I don't suffer from major depression, I live with it. There are days when things are okay, that I can cope and manage things, and even manage to be genuinely happy.
Then there are the dark days, the days where it's an accomplishment to even get out of bed. These are usually the days I try not talking to anyone, because I don't even want to be around myself. So, of course, these are also the days when I either have to work or everyone and their brother wants to talk to me. Murphy's Law.
I was very suicidal as a child. When I was eleven, one of my great-uncles died, and it devastated my younger brother. Watching him mourn the death of someone we both admired and loved opened my eyes to the selfish behavior of suicide. While I still thought that people would get over it in a matter of days, I couldn't put my brother through even that small amount of grief. It wasn't fair to him.
So I pushed myself to find things that made life worth living. I challenged myself to succeed, to be positive, to find peace and grab it with everything I could. I surround myself with positive people; collecting positive sayings and quotes like they're air and I'm suffocating. Most days, it's good. Most days, I can find a way to see the good in people, situations, and things.
Other days, well, that's what writing is for.
I guess what I really want you to know is that you're not alone. If or when you feel that no one understands you, that you're all alone in the world, or that people would be better off without you, know that I'm here. There are others too, who feel your pain. While we may not experience the same triggers, there are others out there who understand and can empathize with what you are feeling. And even though you may not believe it, or feel the truth of these words, please remember, you're special to someone. You may not know it, and they may never tell you, but everyone is special to someone on this earth - because of you, they are a better person.
So go out there, live your life, smile and give someone a hug today. You never know how much they could actually need that. <3

Procrastination

Working two jobs, being a cat mommy, a wife to a very spoiled man (whom I love dearly), and trying to get a writing career off the ground is exhausting. I absolutely hate cleaning the litter boxes and have been putting it off for almost 30 hours now. I don't want to clean them, but I also don't want to smell cat crap either. Sigh. Why can't things in life be more fun?
What things do you procrastinate doing? How do you waste your time while procrastinating? Me, well, today it was The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and Jaws 3 on AMC. Such a waste of a day, especially when I already own the first two movies and could have watched them when I was finished with the litter boxes and in half the time as them being on tv. lol.
I am now off to clean these stinky boxes, clean my office, and do a bit of sewing, if time permits. I have to be to bed early for work in the morning. <3

Comment alerts

For some reason, I'm not getting comment alerts like I should be. I do apologize for my late responses to some of you, but I'm working on rectifying this problem. It is my mid-year goal as well to post more frequently. Can someone please kick my butt occasionally if I start to slip? lol. I love you guys!

Self Publishing Summit

I am speechless. I was asked to join a Self Publishing Summit held at Truckee Meadows Community College this fall. It will be Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 6p.m. - 8p.m. and I would love to see you there!

"Discover which self-publishing options are best suited for you and your book from four authors who chose various publishing routes. Delve into book release timing, budgeting, marketing and more. After an information-packed presentation, ask panelists your questions and learn about the pros and cons of starting your own publishing imprint, publishing through a large house’s self publishing imprint, and doing it yourself through CreateSpace, Kindle and Smashwords platforms."

If you're in the Reno-Sparks area, and want to chat with authors, grab some books, and hear some valuable information, sign up and say hi! Here are the bios of the other authors:

Virginia Castleman

TMCC's writing instructor since 2001, Virginia authored the book "Mommi Watta-Spirit of the River," a Liberian legend, along with other children's articles. Recently, Simon and Schuster picked up her self-published novel, Strays, and will be releasing it next year. Besides teaching Writing For Children at TMCC, she is the regional advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Virginia has a bachelor's degree in english and a master's in interdisciplinary studies from California State University-Chico.

Kathleen Berry

Kathleen Berry has managed the TMCC Writers’ Conference and the Nevada Ghost and Paranormal Series since 2008. She has worked with many of the West's best paranormal investigators and psychics. Stemming from her experiences, Kathleen published her spirituality memoir, "A Reluctant Spirit: A True Tale of God, Ghosts and a Skeptical Christian" and writes a weekly blog at www.kathleenberry.com. Her book has received national accolades from Kirkus Reviews, calling her memoir “intriguing” and “a gripping account.” She’s authored dozens of articles for international and regional magazines, including Automobile Quarterly, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Nevada Magazine and more. She’s been a featured guest on the nationally syndicated Coast to Coast A.M. with George Noory—a program that’s heard by three million listeners across North America. A marketer and accredited public relations professional with thirty years of experience, Kathleen has been employed by Truckee Meadows Community College since 1996.

Patricia Cafferata

Attorney, author and historian, Patty Cafferata is a life-long resident of Reno, Nevada. She has had a diverse career in the law and politics. She served in the Nevada Assembly and when she was elected Nevada State Treasurer in 1982, she became the first woman elected to any constitutional office in the state. Cafferata has also served as district attorney of Lincoln, Lander and Esmeralda counties. Cafferata wrote and published seven books on Nevada history. These books include: The Goldfield Hotel: Gem of the Desert; Mapes Hotel: The History of Reno’s Landmark Hotel and Casino; Lake Mansion: Home to Reno’s Founding Families; More than a Song and a Dance: The Heyday of Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada, circa 1863 to 1897; Tales of the Biggest Little City in the World: A Collection of Patty Cafferata’s columns on Reno, Nevada, Vol. I, II and III. And, she co-authored her mother’s memoirs, Barbara F. Vucanovich: From Nevada to Congress and Back Again published by the University of Nevada Press. Her latest book Christmas in Nevada, a history of how Nevadans have and continue to celebrate the holiday, will be released by the University of Nevada Press in the Fall of 2014.

Exciting news!

I've been waiting until everything was finalized before I shared this with you all, and now I finally can!
I have recently partnered up with a creative team called Blue Harvest Creative. They do everything for me that a traditional publishing house would do, and more. I'm extremely excited to be partnering with them, and can't wait to see how they will transform my books!
We are starting with the Zombie War books, and together, we have decided to combine the trilogy into one book with three parts. Currently we are in the editing process, and for that alone, I'm thrilled. I think that the transformation of the Zombie War books is going to be something that you will enjoy even more than I.
You will be the first to know when the new and improved book will be available. I can't wait! :)

Another year older...

I've had a difficult time getting older ever since I turned 30. My 30th was absolutely amazing - I was excited, threw a huge party, and became gloriously drunk. It was one of the best birthdays I can remember having.
Today I turn 33. I know some of you are saying, "what?! You're only 33?" I know, I'm older than I look. While others are groaning, "you are such a kid! You have so much life ahead of you, how can you be upset about being 33?" I know what you're thinking, because it's the same thing I say to my younger friends. And you're right. But that doesn't change anything.
For the past month, I've been increasingly frustrated and fighting depression. Part of that has been because I've had to return to health care (my second job isn't progressing like my boss and I had thought it would have) and had to work last night and tonight, and part of that is because I'm not where I want to be in my life.
Two things happened tonight that have released the birthday blues from my shoulders at the start of the day. First, I was able to leave work early. Not having to work, or get more work if someone else left early, was such a wonderful present.
Secondly, before I left work I had a conversation with one of the nurses and finally figured out why I've felt so poopy lately. We were talking about me not being as perky as I usually am, and I told her that it was my birthday. I don't like becoming older, because I'm not where I want to be in life. I feel like, for me, I should have accomplished something of note by now. Everyone I know has kids, or is pregnant, and either is a stay-at-home mom, or has a good job that they mostly enjoy. I don't have any of that. I have a dream that I'm working towards, but I'm not there yet. I feel like I should at least be able to see things coming to fruition. She planted the seed that I probably am better off than I think.
Thirdly, as I was driving home, I opened the moonroof and watched the moon as I drove. For me, there's something so therapeutic about the moon. I'm at peace at night, under the moonlight. While I was driving, stealing glances up into the sky, I finally relaxed and became excited about today.
I'm not where I want to be, but I'm trying. There are good things on the horizon with my writing, and the rest of my life is tolerable. While I'm not a fan of health care, I have a good job, in a good hospital, and am able to pay my bills with money left to put towards the books. I know what I want out of life, and even though it feels as if I'm stuck, I'm still taking steps forward. That's the most important thing. So while I may be 33, and not where I want to be, I'm headed in the right direction.

Renaissance Faire at Artown!

Come One, Come All! 

This Sunday (July 6, 2014) Marissa Ames and I will be present at the Nevada Opera's Renaissance Fair in Wingfield Park. This is part of the Reno is Artown celebration and we are inviting YOU!!

Books and swag will be available for signing and purchase from 10am - 9pm, or until we sell out! And of course there will be giveaways!

Get there early to meet your favorite authors! 

Marissa Ames

Crossing genres, Marissa Ames writes fantasy fiction and blogs for multiple venues, including a national poultry magazine. Her debut novel, Minstrel, begins the medieval-based fantasy series of Tir Athair. She is currently working on Vassal, the second novel in the Tir Athair series, and collaborates with many worthy writers on diverse anthologies. Marissa has written stories since age 8, instilling her lifelong fascination with medieval history into her work. In her real life, she manages a day job, a husband and two teenage children, and an entire urban farm just a mile south of downtown Reno, Nevada, in the United States.

"Reno readers: I'll be giving away a swag package to the first person who approaches our book-signing booth and claims they "seek wheat and rye." The swag package includes signed print copies of both MINSTREL and DARRION, bookmarks, a tote bag courtesy of Blue Harvest Creative, and a sword or tiara for each child in the group! I'm only giving away one, so be the first to use the secret words!"

Jean Booth

Jean Booth was born in the sweltering Las Vegas desert. She moved about during her childhood until returning to her roots in northern Nevada. She is happily married with 9 cats as her children. For the entirety of her adult life she has worked in health care, battling insurances and limited staffing to provide great care to those who need it. Her greatest escapes are the stories found in books and in her head that she has finally decided to share.

"I'll be giving away a swag package to the first person who approaches our book-signing booth and claims "brains pair well with a nice chianti." The swag package includes signed print copies of Zombie War: The Trilogy, a tote bag courtesy of Blue Harvest Creative, and a sword or tiara for each* child in the group! I'm only giving away one, so be the first to use the secret words!"